HOW DO YOU MAKE 28 INCHES OF WATER LAST A COMMUNITY FOR A WHOLE YEAR?

CBG HAS AN INTEGRATED AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TESTED IN THE SAHEL REGION OF BURKINA FASO.

Satellites help pinpoint the underground aquifers that will be the best locations to place catchment basins.

Communities are engaged to secure the land and help dig the hole for the basin. CBG receives requests from many communities that are interested in getting year-round water for $45 per person.

Man-made catchment basins that are 2.5-3 times the size of an Olympic swimming pool hold rainfall and help to raise the water table so that wells can have water year-round.

Solar panels are then installed to help further the catchment basins’ uses, extending functionality to eliminate manual well pumping as well as include agricultural irrigation and electricity for the community.

Access to well water, agricultural irrigation and electricity in turn provide better educational opportunities for girls who no longer have to spend as much time collecting water; economic opportunities for the community through crop diversity; and technological advancements for the region reducing the rural exodus.

Educational empowerment, economic empowerment and technological empowerment are three central pillars necessary in order to form a more stable region. On top of this, community members are trained in order to maintain the system and have a truly sustainable year-round water supply.

2

BASINS

have been built so far helping more than 6,000 people.

18,000,000

PEOPLE

worldwide could be helped with rainwater catchment basins.

$150,000

AVERAGE COST

for a basin that supports a community of 3,000

“Thanks to this project we have fresh vegetables at any time. Many people in other villages asked about our secret, I said, our recipes are water and solar power. With these two, we can grow.”